View allAll Photos Tagged widcombe
St John RC church in Bath. Featured on BBC's Springwatch last year for its nesting Peregrine Falcons. Photo taken from the River Avon in Widcombe, Bath, on 11 March 2013.
Traces of Sydney Wharf where coal from the local Somerset Coalfields was landed (carried on the Somersetshire Coal Canal first), along with Bath Stone from the quarries in the hills south of the City.
The Grade II* Listed Bath Spa Railway Station, Bath, Somerset.
Bath Spa station was built in 1840 for the Great Western Railway by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is in an asymmetrical Tudor style with curving gables, and lies on the north bank of the Avon, with the line swerving across from the southern bank to the station and then back again. Opened on 31 August 1840, the station was originally named Bath, but was given its present name of Bath Spa in 1949 to distinguish it from Bath Green Park station, which did not have its name altered from Bath until 1951.
A convenient feature for passengers was the ramps that led up to both platforms, giving the disabled and those with luggage easy access from the platforms to cars or taxis. However, in 2011 the northern ramp was removed in a station redevelopment which provided lifts instead. There is also a footbridge leading directly from the station across the Avon and allowing direct access to the Widcombe area. It was originally tolled, and informally known locally as the Ha'penny Bridge; it was reconstructed in 1877.
The station has wide spacing between the platforms: there were originally two broad gauge carriage sidings between the platform lines. The station was first built with a hammerbeam roof covered the area between the platforms, however this was removed in 1897 when the station was remodelling with longer platforms. The station originally had a three track goods shed immediately west of the station, to the north of the main track. In 1877 a large goods depot was built about 500 metres to the west at Westmoreland, and the goods shed was demolished for the station remodelling in 1897.
The Grade II* Listed Bath Spa Railway Station, Bath, Somerset.
Bath Spa station was built in 1840 for the Great Western Railway by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is in an asymmetrical Tudor style with curving gables, and lies on the north bank of the Avon, with the line swerving across from the southern bank to the station and then back again. Opened on 31 August 1840, the station was originally named Bath, but was given its present name of Bath Spa in 1949 to distinguish it from Bath Green Park station, which did not have its name altered from Bath until 1951.
A convenient feature for passengers was the ramps that led up to both platforms, giving the disabled and those with luggage easy access from the platforms to cars or taxis. However, in 2011 the northern ramp was removed in a station redevelopment which provided lifts instead. There is also a footbridge leading directly from the station across the Avon and allowing direct access to the Widcombe area. It was originally tolled, and informally known locally as the Ha'penny Bridge; it was reconstructed in 1877.
The station has wide spacing between the platforms: there were originally two broad gauge carriage sidings between the platform lines. The station was first built with a hammerbeam roof covered the area between the platforms, however this was removed in 1897 when the station was remodelling with longer platforms. The station originally had a three track goods shed immediately west of the station, to the north of the main track. In 1877 a large goods depot was built about 500 metres to the west at Westmoreland, and the goods shed was demolished for the station remodelling in 1897.
The underpass below the Grade II* Listed Bath Spa Railway Station, Bath, Somerset.
Bath Spa station was built in 1840 for the Great Western Railway by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is in an asymmetrical Tudor style with curving gables, and lies on the north bank of the Avon, with the line swerving across from the southern bank to the station and then back again. Opened on 31 August 1840, the station was originally named Bath, but was given its present name of Bath Spa in 1949 to distinguish it from Bath Green Park station, which did not have its name altered from Bath until 1951.
A convenient feature for passengers was the ramps that led up to both platforms, giving the disabled and those with luggage easy access from the platforms to cars or taxis. However, in 2011 the northern ramp was removed in a station redevelopment which provided lifts instead. There is also a footbridge leading directly from the station across the Avon and allowing direct access to the Widcombe area. It was originally tolled, and informally known locally as the Ha'penny Bridge; it was reconstructed in 1877.
The station has wide spacing between the platforms: there were originally two broad gauge carriage sidings between the platform lines. The station was first built with a hammerbeam roof covered the area between the platforms, however this was removed in 1897 when the station was remodelling with longer platforms. The station originally had a three track goods shed immediately west of the station, to the north of the main track. In 1877 a large goods depot was built about 500 metres to the west at Westmoreland, and the goods shed was demolished for the station remodelling in 1897.
Widcombe subway...funnily enough despite the stylish "roman mosaic" not on the Bath's tourist trail.
Loved the details of this gate at Bath's Abbey Cemetery... the form, the the texture, the colour, the way it interacted with the trees in the background, everything!
One of a series of panoramic pieces illustrating Bath in the great freeze of January 2010. This is an early morning panorama from the northern slopes of Lower Camden across to the silhouetted square tower of the Abbey (c1499-1533) and the spire of St Michaels church (c1834-7) to its right with the outlines of Widcombe and Odd Down hills and the trees on the high ridge of Beechen Cliff immortalised by Jane Austen on the left horizon. The frosted white roofs in the foreground belong to the apartment blocks of Snow Hill (c1959-63).
See the rest of the "Bath - Cold Winter 2010" set here: www.flickr.com/photos/david_lewis_baker_arts/sets/7215762...
The Grade II* Listed Bath Spa Railway Station, Bath, Somerset.
Bath Spa station was built in 1840 for the Great Western Railway by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is in an asymmetrical Tudor style with curving gables, and lies on the north bank of the Avon, with the line swerving across from the southern bank to the station and then back again. Opened on 31 August 1840, the station was originally named Bath, but was given its present name of Bath Spa in 1949 to distinguish it from Bath Green Park station, which did not have its name altered from Bath until 1951.
A convenient feature for passengers was the ramps that led up to both platforms, giving the disabled and those with luggage easy access from the platforms to cars or taxis. However, in 2011 the northern ramp was removed in a station redevelopment which provided lifts instead. There is also a footbridge leading directly from the station across the Avon and allowing direct access to the Widcombe area. It was originally tolled, and informally known locally as the Ha'penny Bridge; it was reconstructed in 1877.
The station has wide spacing between the platforms: there were originally two broad gauge carriage sidings between the platform lines. The station was first built with a hammerbeam roof covered the area between the platforms, however this was removed in 1897 when the station was remodelling with longer platforms. The station originally had a three track goods shed immediately west of the station, to the north of the main track. In 1877 a large goods depot was built about 500 metres to the west at Westmoreland, and the goods shed was demolished for the station remodelling in 1897.
The Grade II* Listed Bath Spa Railway Station, Bath, Somerset.
Bath Spa station was built in 1840 for the Great Western Railway by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is in an asymmetrical Tudor style with curving gables, and lies on the north bank of the Avon, with the line swerving across from the southern bank to the station and then back again. Opened on 31 August 1840, the station was originally named Bath, but was given its present name of Bath Spa in 1949 to distinguish it from Bath Green Park station, which did not have its name altered from Bath until 1951.
A convenient feature for passengers was the ramps that led up to both platforms, giving the disabled and those with luggage easy access from the platforms to cars or taxis. However, in 2011 the northern ramp was removed in a station redevelopment which provided lifts instead. There is also a footbridge leading directly from the station across the Avon and allowing direct access to the Widcombe area. It was originally tolled, and informally known locally as the Ha'penny Bridge; it was reconstructed in 1877.
The station has wide spacing between the platforms: there were originally two broad gauge carriage sidings between the platform lines. The station was first built with a hammerbeam roof covered the area between the platforms, however this was removed in 1897 when the station was remodelling with longer platforms. The station originally had a three track goods shed immediately west of the station, to the north of the main track. In 1877 a large goods depot was built about 500 metres to the west at Westmoreland, and the goods shed was demolished for the station remodelling in 1897.
Ramblers admiring the view across Bath to the Cathedral and cow in the field, seen from Widcombe Hill Bath
This electronic bus stop sign in Prior Park Road, Widcombe, Bath displayed a London Transport Bus Stop bullseye when photographed on 26th October 2018.
A complete TfL-type bus stop with "Buses" roundel flag was erected here for the 2016 Bath Comedy Festival; evidently someone should be credited with taking some trouble to maintain the incongruity when it was replaced.
Route 20C (Clockwise version of the University circulars 20A/20C) had actually been withdrawn from 2nd September 2018; part of the route was covered by new route 20 University-Twerton via the City Centre.
I should have used a slower shutter speed to capture the digital display properly.
The Grade II* Listed Bath Spa Railway Station, Bath, Somerset.
Bath Spa station was built in 1840 for the Great Western Railway by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is in an asymmetrical Tudor style with curving gables, and lies on the north bank of the Avon, with the line swerving across from the southern bank to the station and then back again. Opened on 31 August 1840, the station was originally named Bath, but was given its present name of Bath Spa in 1949 to distinguish it from Bath Green Park station, which did not have its name altered from Bath until 1951.
A convenient feature for passengers was the ramps that led up to both platforms, giving the disabled and those with luggage easy access from the platforms to cars or taxis. However, in 2011 the northern ramp was removed in a station redevelopment which provided lifts instead. There is also a footbridge leading directly from the station across the Avon and allowing direct access to the Widcombe area. It was originally tolled, and informally known locally as the Ha'penny Bridge; it was reconstructed in 1877.
The station has wide spacing between the platforms: there were originally two broad gauge carriage sidings between the platform lines. The station was first built with a hammerbeam roof covered the area between the platforms, however this was removed in 1897 when the station was remodelling with longer platforms. The station originally had a three track goods shed immediately west of the station, to the north of the main track. In 1877 a large goods depot was built about 500 metres to the west at Westmoreland, and the goods shed was demolished for the station remodelling in 1897.
Names on the Bath and Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers First World War memorial in Bath Abbey
These mostly follow the identifications in the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers Roll of Honour: www.cccbr.org.uk/rolls/societies/details.php?id=1&nam...
The Bath-based ringers that died were J. Odey, who was at the time of his death resident at Swindon, A. E. Seers, and T. G. Taylor (Batheaston). Ringing performance records in the Bath Chronicle show that Messrs Odey and Seers rang together quite often, e.g. in peals and quarter-peals.
Assuming that the identifications are correct, it means that over two-thirds of the men listed on this memorial died on the Western Front; i.e. out of the 60 Association members listed, 44 are buried or memorialised in France (33) or Belgium (11), the remainder in the UK (7), Egypt (3), Israel / Palestine (2), India / Pakistan (2), Greece (1) and Iraq (1).
First column:
S. Ball (Congresbury): Private Sydney J. Ball (Service No: 242544), 1st/5th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment; died 26 June 1917; name recorded on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France (Bay 6.); [Private Ball's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Congresbury and resident at Weston super Mare]. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/739560/BALL,%20SYDNEY...
W. Bennett (Monksilver): Private W. (William) Bennett (Service No: 47904), 2nd Bn., Welsh Regiment; died 20 July 1918, aged 40; buried in Cambrin Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France (P. 21.); son of Charles and Elizabeth Bennett, of Monksilver, Taunton, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/33355/BENNETT,%20W
H. Brock (Badgworth): Private H. (Hubert) A. Brock (Service No: 16520), 1st Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 21 June 1915, aged 20; buried in Talana Farm Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (II. B. 9.); son of Mrs. Miriam Burrow Body, of Crab Hole, Biddisham, Axbridge, Somerset; [Private Brock's Forces War Records entry describes him as "Gilbert Austin Brock," born and resident at Badgworth, Somerset]. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/100059/BROCK,%20H%20A
A. Budd (Curry Rivel): Rifleman Albert Budd (Service No: 16113), 9th Bn., King's Royal Rifle Corps; died 15 September 1916; name recorded on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France (Pier and Face 13 A and 13 B.); [Rifleman Budd's Forces War Records entry states that he was born and resident at Curry Rivel, Somerset].
W. Butler (Long Ashton): Lance Corporal C. G. W. Butler (Service No: 4810), 2nd/6th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment; died 20 July 1916, aged 24; buried in Merville Communal Cemetery, France (XI. B. 32.); son of William and Hannah Butler, of Dundry View, Long Ashton, Bristol.
G. Bye (Portbury): Private G. Bye (Service No: 13152), 8th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment; died 15 September 1916; buried in Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont, Somme, France (X. A. 3.); [Private George Bye's Forces War Records entry states that he was born and resident at Nailsea, Bristol].
W. Caple (Easton in Gordano): Gunner William Ivor Caple (Service No: 184261), "A" Bty. 62nd Bde., Royal Field Artillery; died 9 July 1917, aged 19; buried in Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, France (I. J. 4.); son of William and Amelia Caple, of Marsh Lane, Easton-in-Gordano, Bristol.
A. Case (Langport): Rifleman A. E. Case (Service No: 50024), 18th Bn., London Regiment (London Irish Rifles); died 6 August 1918, aged 19; buried in Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension (VI. H. 6.); son of Edward and Emily J. Case, of Whatley, Langport, Somerset.
E. Chivers (Midsomer Norton): Corporal Ernest Charles Chivers (Service No: 20782), 1st Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 24 April 1917, aged 23; buried in Étaples Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France (XIX. H. 6.); son of Frederick and Emma Chivers, of Midsomer Norton, Bath.
S. Chivers (Midsomer Norton): Private Arthur Stanley Chivers (Service No: 37982), 1st Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 14 April 1918; name recorded on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium (Panel 3.); [Private Chivers's Forces War Records entry states that he was born and resident at Midsomer Norton, Somerset].
A. E. Coles (Bridgwater): Second Lieutenant Albert Edward Coles, 1st Bn., Somerset Light Infantry, attd. 11th Trench Mortar Bty.; died 4 October 1917 , aged 20; name recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (Panel 41); son of Albert Edward and Ida [Ada] Belle Coles, of "The Gables", Hamp [Green Rise], Bridgwater, Somerset: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/840886/coles,-albert-...
W. Comer (Badgworth): Gunner W. Comer (Service No: 117061), 261st Siege Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery; died 21 May 1917; buried in Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, France (I. E. 5.); [Gunner Wilfred Comer's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Badgworth and resident at Weston super Mare].
R. Cox (Evercreech): Private Robert Cox (Service No: 1831), 1st/4th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 9 October 1916; name recorded on the Basra Memorial, Iraq (Panel 12.); [Private Cox's Forces War Records entry states that he was born and resident at Evercreech].
B. Cullen (Cheddar): Serjeant Harold Clyde Cullen (Service No: 494331), 479th Field Coy., Royal Engineers; awards: MSM; died 28 March 1818, aged 21; name recorded on the Pozières Memorial, Somme, France (Panel 10 to 13); son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Cullen [i.e. William James and Caroline Cullen], of The Hall Lodge [i.e. The Lodge, Cliff Street], Cheddar, Somerset; husband of Alice S. Cullen, of 50, Frankfurt Rd., Herne Hill, London; [Harold Cullen was born at Cheddar on 14 October 1896, enlisted at Bristol on 21 November 1914, and Married Alice Sophia Cullen at St Paul's Church, Herne Hill, London on 24 November 1917]. Harold's uncle also died: Private Herbert Cullen (Service No: 329635), 1st/1st Bn., Cambridgeshire Regiment; died 7 September 1917, aged 40; buried in La Clytte Military Cemetery (I. F. 40.); son of Charles and Mary Cullen, of Cheddar; husband of Alice Cullen, of Steart, Cheddar, Somerset; [Herbert Cullen enlisted at Weston super Mare]. Newspaper reports show that William Cullen, Harold's father, was a bellringer at Cheddar: a W. Cullen attended a ringers' dinner in 1892 (when he would have been in his early 20s); also there is a report of much ringing at Cheddar when William's daughter Margaret married in 1926.
I. G. Day (Weare): Private I. G. (Ivan George) Day (Service No: TR7/7393), 94th Bn., Training Reserve; died 03/04/1917, aged 18; buried in Weare (St. Gregory) Churchyard (in South-East corner.); son of Aubrie and Emma J. Day [i.e. George Aubrey and Emma Jane Day, of Weare, Axbridge; [Soldiers Died records Private Ivon George Day as 7/7393, 16th (Reserve) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, although there is no mention of that in his service records; Soldiers Died also records that Private Day had been born at Weare and that he had enlisted at Weston super Mare; Private Day's service records additionally reveal that he died of illness (measles, broncho-pneumonia) in Chiseldon Camp hospital (Wiltshire), while still in training]. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/393920/DAY,%20I%20G
H. Doble (Ilminster): Private Herbert Doble (Service No: 3885), 1st Bn., Welsh Guards; died 28 March 1918; name recorded on the Arras Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France (Bay 1.). [Private Doble’s Forces War Records entry states that he was born and resident at Ilminster, Somerset].
G. Drew (Dinder): Private Gilbert Victor Drew (Service No: 30092), 1st Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 1 July 1917, aged 19; buried in Dinder (St. Michael) Churchyard, Somerset (Section A. Grave 46). www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/75229226/DREW,%20GILB...
B. F. Dunford (Radstock): Lieutenant Bertram Fred Dunford, 206th Sqdn., Royal Air Force; died 19 May 1918, aged 19; name recorded on the Arras Flying Services Memorial; son of James and Mary Dunford, of 4, Laurel Terrace, Radstock, Somerset.
S. Everett [sic] (Huish Episcopi): Private Stanley Evenett (Service No: 764061), "C" Coy. 1st/28th Bn., London Regiment (Artists' Rifles); died 30 October 1917, aged 25; name recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (Panel 153.); son of Walter and Eleanor Evenett, of 53, Ashdown Rd., Saffron Walden, Essex. [Private Evenett’s name can also be found on the Huish Episcopi war memorial]. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1631453/EVENETT,%20ST...
H. Fisher (Long Ashton): Private Harry Fisher (Service No: 22692), 12th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment; died 8 May 1917; name recorded on the Arras Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France (Bay 6.); [Private Fisher's Forces War Records entry state that he was born at Long Ashton and resident at Bristol].
Second Column:
L. Fisher (Congresbury): Private Leslie William Fisher (Service No: 265946), "A" Coy. 2nd/5th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment; died 3 June 1917, aged 19; buried in Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, France (I. G. 8.); son of George and Louisa Fisher, of Congresbury, Bristol; late chorister and bell-ringer at Congresbury Parish Church. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/565789/FISHER,%20LESL...
H. Ford (Chewton Mendip): Private Henry Ford (Service No: 3968), 1st/6th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment; died 18 March 1916, aged 18; buried in Sucrereie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France (I. D. 105.); son of George and Rosina Ford, of Chewton Hill, Chewton Mendip, Bath. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/311844/FORD,%20HENRY
H. Fountain (Cheddar): Private George Fountain (Service No: 41809), 7th Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; died 21 March 1918, aged 23; name recorded on the Pozières Memorial, Somme France (Panel 38 to 40.); son of Ada E. Fountain, of Tutters Hill, Cheddar, Somerset, and the late Charles Fountain. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1581050/FOUNTAIN,%20G...
C. V. Fry (Bridgwater): Private Clarence Vivian Clements Fry (Service No: 43835), 1st Bn., Wiltshire Regiment; died 5 November 1918, aged 20; buried in Bridgwater (Wembdon Road) Cemetery (Church Portion. IV. 9. 1.); son of William Fry, of 58, Ashleigh Avenue, Bridgwater, and the late Rosa Fry. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/394124/FRY,%20CLARENC...
W. H. Fudge (Taunton): Private William Henry Fudge (Service No: 202688), 2nd/4th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 18 December 1917, aged 32; buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel and Palestine (G. 58.); son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Fudge; husband of Elizabeth Fudge, of 22, Thomas St., Rowbarton, Taunton; native of Taunton, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/652388/FUDGE,%20WILLI...
A. Gould (Wraxall): Probably: Private Richard Frances Gould (Service No: 8/13242), 36th Bn., Training Reserve, transf. to (493939) 599th Agricultural Coy. Labour Corps; died 19 October 1918, aged 34; buried in Long Ashton (All Saints) Churchyard (D8.); son of John and Mary Gould, of Wraxall; husband of Ada May Gould, of 65, Worrall Rd., Clifton, Bristol. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/394340/GOULD,%20RICHA...
S. R. Ham (East Brent): Probably: Sapper Sydney William Ham (Service No: 971), 2nd (Wessex) Field Coy., Royal Engineers; died 2 October 1915, aged 18; buried in Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France (I. K. 8.); son of Jeffery and Emily Ham, of East Brent, Highbridge, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/253468/HAM,%20SYDNEY%...
A. Harris (Blagdon): Private Alvan Oscar Harris (Service No: 46437), 11th Bn., Leicestershire Regiment; died 15 May 1918, aged 35; buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No. 3. West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (IV. D. 16.); husband of Mrs. M. Harris, of 21, Urmson Rd., Liscard, Cheshire; born Blagdon, Bristol. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/140099/HARRIS,%20ALVA...
J. V. M. Hodges (Shepton Mallet): Lance Corporal Joseph Vasco Hodges (Service No: D/6256), 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers); died 2 September 1914, aged 23; buried in City of Paris Cemetery, Pantin, Seine-St-Denis, France (6. 21. 32.); son of Joseph E. and Charlotte V. Hodges, of Rifle Cottage, 26, Cowl St., Shepton Mallet, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/258283/HODGES,%20JOSE...
J. Hodges (Shepton Mallet): Private Jack Nelson Hodges (Service No: 45074), 1st Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; died 21 October 1918, aged 19; buried in Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (IV. H. 27.); son of Mr. J. E. and Mrs. C. V. Hodges, of Rifle Cottage, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2936174/HODGES,%20JAC...
C. James (East Brent): Probably: Private Arthur Charles Janes (Service No: 5026), 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers; died 13 May 1915, aged 33; buried in Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery and Extension, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (II. D. 8.); son of Mary Janes, of Eastfield, Lympsham, Weston-super-Mare, and the late Thomas Janes. [Private Janes’s Forces War Records entry states that he had been born at Lympsham and resident at Weston-super-Mare; his name (Charles Janes) also appears on the war memorial in Lympsham church]. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480848/JANES,%20ARTHU...
R. Jarvis (Uphill): Private R. J. Jarvis (Service No: 307300), 2nd/7th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment); died 24 March 1918, aged 20; buried in London Cemetery, Neuville-Vitasse, Pas-de-Calais, France (II. G. 16.); son of Robert William and Mary Ellen Jarvis, of 2, Arch Villas, Uphill, Weston-super-Mare. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/285416/JARVIS,%20R%20J
J. Loxton (Weare): Private R. [Ray Jack Emery] Loxton (Service No: 41741), 7th/8th Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; died 18 November 1917; buried in Croisilles British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France (II. C. 9.). [Private Loxton’s Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Lower Weare, Somerset and resident at Weston-super-Mare]. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/4040441/LOXTON,%20R
A. O. Major (Bridgwater): Captain Arthur Oswald Major, 1st/5th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 23 November 1917, aged 42; buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel and Palestine (C. 27.); son of Henry James and Julia Mary Major, of 1 8, Northfield, Bridgwater, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/647560/MAJOR,%20ARTHU...
A. C. Marden (Marston Magna): Second Lieutenant Arthur Cecil Marden, 117th Heavy Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery; died 11 December 1917, aged 31; buried in White House Cemetery, St. Jean-les-Ypres (St Jan), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (III. O. 22.); youngest son of Mr. E. D. Marden, of Marston House, Marston Magna, Somerset; husband of Jennie Marden. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/454781/MARDEN,%20ARTH...
F. Marsh (Glastonbury): Lance Corporal Frederick Charles Marsh (Service No: 41622), 3rd Sqdn., Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry); died 23 March 1918, aged 28; name recorded on the Pozières Memorial, Somme, France (Panel 93 and 94.); son of Frederick and Mary Marsh, of 2, Goswell Terrace, Street, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1585189/MARSH,%20FRED...
F. Norman (Milverton): Driver Fred Norman (Service No: T4/186776), 163rd Horse Transport Coy., Army Service Corps; died 5 November 1918, aged 39; buried in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece (1913.); son of Abraham and Elizabeth Norman, of Fore St., Milverton, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/341492/NORMAN,%20FRED
J. Odey (Christ Church, Swindon, previously a ringer in Bath): Private John H. Odey (Service No: 54286), 13th Bn., Durham Light Infantry; died 8 June 1917, aged 34; name recorded on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (Panel 36 and 38.); son of Mrs. James Odey, of 7, Southville Terrace, Lyncombe Vale, Bath; husband of Rosie Mary Odey, of 3, Stanley St., Swindon, Wilts. [Private Odey's name also appears on the Widcombe war memorial, the main Bath war memorial, and the war memorial in Christ Church, Swindon]. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/919326/ODEY,%20JOHN%20H
V. Partridge (Wraxall): Driver A. V. Partridge (Service No: T4/262954), Army Service Corps; died 24 May 1918, aged 32; buried in Wraxall (All Saints) Churchyard. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/394350/PARTRIDGE,%20A...
W. Perry (Wrington): Private William John Perry (Service No: 23664), 2nd Bn., Royal Warwickshire Regiment; died 1 October 1917, aged 35; buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (XL. H. 8.); son of Fred and H. Perry, of The Bridge, Wrington; husband of Mrs. S. A. Perry, of 2, Bapen Buildings, Wrington, Bristol. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/464266/PERRY,%20WILLI...
Third Column
S. Phillips (Taunton): Private Sidney A. Phillips (Service No: 276352), "B" Coy. 1st/8th Bn., Durham Light Infantry; died 25 March 1918, aged 33; name recorded on the Pozières Memorial, Somme, France (Panel 68 to 72.); son of James Phillips, of Ilfracombe; husband of Beatrice Phillips, of 16, East Reach, Taunton, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1586726/PHILLIPS,%20S...
T. Pope (Curry Rivel): Gunner Thomas Sylvester Pope (Service No: 110171), 10th Heavy Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery; died 5 January 1919, aged 30; buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt (G. 47.); son of John and Mary Pope, of Curry Rivel, Taunton; husband of Violet Pope, of the Royal Oak Inn, Stratton, South Petherton, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/476972/POPE,%20THOMAS...
T. Price (Uphill): Private Thomas James Price (Service No: 16734), 12th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment; died 3 September 1916, aged 20; name recorded on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France (Pier and Face 5 A and 5 B.); son of Eliza Ann Price, of 1, Coast Guard Cottages, Uphill, Weston-super-Mare, and the late James Price. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1549393/PRICE,%20THOM...
G. Ralph (Stoke under Ham): Private W. G. Ralph (Service No: 14893), 6th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 16 September 1916, aged 27; buried in Guards’ Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France (III. K. 10.); son of Emma Ralph, of Stoke-under-Ham, Somerset, and the late John Ralph. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/543502/RALPH,%20W%20G
A. E. Seers (St Michael's, Bath): Private Albert Edwin Seers (Service No: 19409), 6th Bn., Dorsetshire Regiment; died 12 October 1918, aged 32; buried in Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt, France (XIII. D. 22.); son of Mr. and Mrs. W H. Seers, of Bath; husband of Emilie Seers, of 23, Magdalen Avenue, Holloway, Bath: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/244619/SEERS,%20ALBER...
H. Stevens (Cutcombe): Private H. Stevens (Service No: 295515), 12th (West Somerset Yeomanry) Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 22 October 1918, aged 21; buried in Estaires Communal Cemetery and Extension, Nord, France (V. G. 18.); son of Mrs. E. Stevens, of Wheddon Cross, Taunton. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/268770/STEVENS,%20H
W. Stitch (Badgworth): Driver William Ephraim Stitch (Service No: T4/234068), 530th H.T. Coy., Army Service Corps; died 28 December 1917, aged 38; buried in Badgworth (St Congar) Churchyard, (near North side of church.); husband of Bertha Stitch, of Pen-Wartha Cottage, Camp Rd., Weston-super-Mare. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/393901/STITCH,%20WILL...
W. Stone (Bleadon): Sapper Walter Stone (Service No: 22249), Royal Engineers (Inland Waterways and Docks); died 18 January 1917; buried in Brent Knoll (St Michael) Churchyard, Somerset. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/393909/STONE,%20WALTER
T. G. Taylor (Batheaston): Private Thomas George Taylor (Service No: 3851), 1st Bn., Welsh Guards; died 11 September 1918, aged 28; buried in Moeuvres Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France (V. B. 24.); son of John Greening Taylor; [Private Taylor’s name also appears on the war memorial at Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/338264/TAYLOR,%20THOM...
W. Tudgay (West Lydford): Private Walter Tudgay (Service No: 6748), 1st Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 26 August 1914, aged 30; name recorded on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France; husband of Ethel Beatrice Tudgay, of 42, High St., West Lydford, Taunton. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/724400/TUDGAY,%20WALTER
C. Vowles (Chew Stoke): Private Charles Vowles (Service No: DM2/171813), 178th Mechanical Transport Coy., Army Service Corps, attd. 12th Heavy Bty Royal Garrison Artillery; died 14 July 1917, aged 30; buried in Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (II. D. 28.); son of William and Matilda Vowles; husband of Elizabeth Ann Vowles, of Bristol Rd., Chew Stoke, Bristol. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/139616/VOWLES,%20CHARLES
S. Waite (Tickenham): Possibly: Private S. G. [Stanley George] Wait (Service No: 25717), 7th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 21 June 1917; buried in Noreuil Australian Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France (A. 19.); [the name of S. G. Wait appears on the Tickenham war memorial; Private Wait's Forces War Records entry states that he was born and resident at Clevedon]. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/615209/WAIT,%20S%20G
T. Ward (Ditcheat): Private Thomas Leonard Ward (Service No: 1859), 11th Bn., Australian Infantry, A.I.F.; died 10 August 1915, aged 25; buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt (J. 129.); son of Henry Walter and Mary Anne Elizabeth Ward, of Ditcheat, Bath, England; [Private Ward's military papers have been digitised by the National Archives of Australia; they reveal: that he was born at Camden Town, London; that he was a farmer; that his next-of-kin was his mother, Mrs M. A. E. Ward, Post Office, Ditcheat, Bath; that, aged 25, he joined the 4th Reinforcements of the 11th Battalion, Australian Infantry at Narrogin, Western Australia on 20 January 1915; that he was taken on strength by the 11th Bn. on 4 June 1915; that he was wounded (gunshot wound in the back) at Gallipoli on the 1 August 1915; that he was taken first to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, then transferred to the hospital ship HMHS "Rewa;" that on the 6 August he was admitted to 19th General Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, where he died on the 10 August; that he was buried by the Rev. Page at Chatby War Cemetery the same day]. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/110093/WARD,%20THOMAS...
W. Weaver (Trull): Air Mechanic 1st Class Henry William Weaver (Service No: 405307), 4th Aircraft Park (India), Royal Flying Corps; died 21 October 1917, aged 31; name recorded on Karachi 1914-1918 War Memorial, Pakistan; son of Henry and Georgina Weaver, of Trull, Somerset.
W. B. Webb (Doulting): Private Walter Bernard Webb (Service No: 25507), 2nd Bn., Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment); died 8 August 1918, aged 38; buried in Mont-Bernanchon Biritish Cemetery, Gonnehem, Pas-de-Calais, France (II. B. 12.); son of Alfred and Elizabeth Webb, of Doulting; husband of A. C. Webb, of 25, Victoria Grove, Shepton Mallet, Somerset.
A. Webber (Brent Knoll): Private Alfred George Webber (Service No: 3/8315), 2nd Bn., Devonshire Regiment; died 1 July 1916; name recorded on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France (Pier and Face 1 C.); [Alfred George Webber features in the 1911 Census as a 24-year old groom gardener, living at Brent Street, Brent Knoll, with his parents William and Emily Webber; Alfred was born in Brent Knoll and, according to the 1891 and 1901 Census returns, the family (including Alfred) were resident there throughout, but at various addresses]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/820048/WEBBER,%20ALFR...
H. Webber (Bishops Hull): Private Henry George Webber (Service No: 241922), 2/5th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 22 January 1919, aged 32; buried in Calcutta (Bhowanipore) Cemetery, Kolkata, India (H. 325.): www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2192227/webber,-henry...
P. Wheeldon (Wrington): Captain Frank Percy Wheeldon, 8th Bn., London Regiment (Post Office Rifles); died 30 October 1917; name recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (Panel 150 to 151.); [According to the discussion on Alan Grevson's Great War Forum, Captain Wheeldon was at one time Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral [according to Wikipedia, from 1908]; he was also a Freemason (Lodge of Agriculture No.1199, initiated 20 Nov 1911); the discussion states that he was killed in overnight attack on Passchendaele Ridge on 29th/30th October 1917; his name appears on war memorials at Wrington and Leamington Spa]. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/876677/WHEELDON,%20FR...
B. Whitehead (West Lydford): Private B. W. Whitehead (Service No: 89552), 101st Coy., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry); died 26 August 1917; buried in Hargicourt British Cemetery, Aisne, France (I. C. 19.); son of Mr. W. Whitehead, of West Lydford, Taunton.
W. Woollard (Shepton Mallet): Private William Woollard (Service No: 203755), "D" Coy. 1st/5th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 3 January 1918, aged 38; buried in Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt (F. 50.); husband of Ada Woollard, of 26, Victoria Grove, Shepton Mallet, Somerset.
The Grade II* Listed Bath Spa Railway Station, Bath, Somerset.
Bath Spa station was built in 1840 for the Great Western Railway by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is in an asymmetrical Tudor style with curving gables, and lies on the north bank of the Avon, with the line swerving across from the southern bank to the station and then back again. Opened on 31 August 1840, the station was originally named Bath, but was given its present name of Bath Spa in 1949 to distinguish it from Bath Green Park station, which did not have its name altered from Bath until 1951.
A convenient feature for passengers was the ramps that led up to both platforms, giving the disabled and those with luggage easy access from the platforms to cars or taxis. However, in 2011 the northern ramp was removed in a station redevelopment which provided lifts instead. There is also a footbridge leading directly from the station across the Avon and allowing direct access to the Widcombe area. It was originally tolled, and informally known locally as the Ha'penny Bridge; it was reconstructed in 1877.
The station has wide spacing between the platforms: there were originally two broad gauge carriage sidings between the platform lines. The station was first built with a hammerbeam roof covered the area between the platforms, however this was removed in 1897 when the station was remodelling with longer platforms. The station originally had a three track goods shed immediately west of the station, to the north of the main track. In 1877 a large goods depot was built about 500 metres to the west at Westmoreland, and the goods shed was demolished for the station remodelling in 1897.
Just beyond the lock is John Knill's water bus "Kingfisher" which was operating on the pound above the lock.
This electronic bus stop sign in Prior Park Road, Widcombe, Bath displayed a London Transport Bus Stop bullseye when photographed on 26th October 2018. This is the reverse side.
A complete TfL-type bus stop with "Buses" roundel flag was erected here for the 2016 Bath Comedy Festival; evidently someone should be credited with taking some trouble to maintain the incongruity when it was replaced.
Route 20C (Clockwise version of the University circulars 20A/20C) had actually been withdrawn from 2nd September 2018; part of the route was covered by new route 20 University-Twerton via the City Centre.
Church War Memorial
The names (some identifications from the Commonweath War Graves Commission database -- work in progress):
SIDNEY UPHILL -- Private Sidney Frank Uphill (Service No: 265522), "B" Coy., 7th Bn. Somerset Light Infantry; died 30 November 1917, aged 33; name recorded on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Nord, France (Panel 4 and 5.); husband of Kitty M. Uphill, of "Hillside," Lower Swainswick, Bath: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1757492/UPHILL,%20SID...
GERALD H. H. BLAKE --
EDWARD BOISSIER BOARD -- Private Edward Boissier Board (Service No: G/40109), 12th Bn., Middlesex Regiment, formerly 26th (Bankers) Bn. Royal Fusiliers; died 26 September 1916, aged 40; name recorded on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France (Pier and Face 12 D and 13 B.): son of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Board, of Hanbury Rd., Clifton, Bristol; husband of Kathleen Board, of 13, Sydney Buildings, Bath: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/766375/BOARD,%20EDWAR...
FREDERICK CHARLTON -- Possibly: Lance Bombardier F. G. O. (Frederick George Oliver) Charlton (Service No: 17223), "C" Bty., 112th Bde., Royal Field Artillery; died 30 April 1918, aged 23; buried in Ebblinghem Military Cemetery, Nord, France (I. E. 1.); son of Frederick and Julia Charlton, of 12, Prince's Buildings, Widcombe, Bath: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/37659/CHARLTON,%20F%2...
CYRIL CLACK -- Corporal Cyril A. Clack (Service No: 20602), 10th Bn., Canadian Infantry; died 11 May 1916, aged 26; buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), Ieper, West-Vlaanderen (VI. E. 41.); son of Samuel T. and Mary Clack, of Bath, England; husband of Margaret Clack, of McLennan, Alberta: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/489339/CLACK,%20CYRIL...
JOHN EDWARD L. CLARKE -- Lieutenant John Edward Langton Clarke, 50th Bty., Royal Field Artillery; awards: MC, Mentioned in Despatches; died 14 September 1914, aged 24; buried in Vendresse British Cemetery, (III. AA. 1.); son of Lt. Col. Sir Edward Henry St. Lawrence Clarke, 4th Bart., of The Hyde, Bridport, Dorset, and the late Lady Clarke; [Lieutenant Clarke's entry in the Bond of Sacrifice, Vol. 1 (1917), p. 80: "LIEUTENANT JOHN EDWARD LANGTON CLARKE. ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY, was the eldest son of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Edward H. St. Lawrence Clarke, fourth Baronet, of Rossmore. Co. Cork ; he was born at Barkhill, Aigburth, Liverpool, on the 22nd November, 1889, and was educated at Clifton College, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. Lieutenant Clarke joined the 50th Battery, XXXIVth Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, as Second Lieutenant, in July, 1909, and was promoted Lieutenant in July, 1912. During the summer of 1914 he acted as Extra A.D.C. to Lieutenant-General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien commanding Southern Command. He accompanied his Battery to France in the Great War, and for his services up to the battle of the Aisne, was mentioned in Sir John French's first Despatch and awarded the distinction of the Military Cross, his name appearing in the list of 1st January, 1915, after his death on the field of battle, which occurred while he was in action at Moussy-sur-Aisne on the 14th September, 1914." Lieutenant Clarke was resident at 19, Bathwick Hill, Bath; his name also appears on a church memorial at Aigburth (although I'm not sure which one)]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/322998/CLARKE,%20JOHN...
WILLIAM H. CLARKE
ALFRED CLAVEY
RALPH WALTER E. ELLIS
JOHN FRANCIS FOX
JOHN M. HARDYMAN -- Lieutenant Colonel John Hay Maitland Hardyman, 8th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; awards: DSO, MC, Twice Mentioned in Despatches; died 24 August 1918, aged 23; buried in Bienvillers Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France (XIX. F. 11.); son of George Hardyman, M.B., F.R.C.S., and Eglantine Henrietta Keith Hardyman, of Perrymead Court, Bath; [Maitland Hardyman was evidently a man of character. Sometimes described as the youngest Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army, he was also a poet and a council member of the Union of Democratic Control, a broadly left-wing pressure group calling for a more open discussion of war aims (whose founders included Charles Trevelyan and Ramsay MacDonald). His poems were published posthumously as: A Challenge (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1919), with a foreword by Norman Hugh Romanes: “It must not be forgotten that during the whole of his military career he was in constant correspondence with those at home whom it was most dangerous for him, from a military point of view, even to agree with, which he did openly, with no sort of regard for consequences. He was on the Council of the Union of Democratic Control and a personal friend of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald. His own epitaph he desired to end as follows: ‘He died as he lived, fighting for abstract principles in a cause which he did not believe in.’” (p. 5); the volume (p. 7) also contains a brief resumé of Maitland Hardyman’s life and military career: born 28 September 1894, Bath; studied at Fettes College, Edinburgh, 1908-11 and Edinburgh University, 1911-14; enlisted 4th Somerset Light Infantry, 20 August 1914; R.F.C. training, Brooklands, 1914-15; Commissioned 9th SLI, 5 February 1915; Acting Adjutant, 7th SLI, Wareham, 1915; Attached Brigade Staff, Swanage, 1915; Attached Divisional Staff, Salisbury, 1916; Lieutenant and Adjutant, 8th SLI, 1916; Captain, April 1917; Major, April 1917; Brigade Liaison Officer, 1917; MC, 18 July 1917; Attached Divisional Staff, Acting Brigade-Major, 37th Division, 1917-18; Elected to Council of Union of Democratic Control, 1917; Lieutenant-Colonel, May 1918; DSO, 11 August 1918; killed-in-action, 24 August 1918, Biefvillers; buried in British Military Cemetery in Biefvillers with full military honours, 24 August 1918. See: ]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/265863/HARDYMAN,%20JO...
CHARLES H. E. HEAD
JOHN WILLIAM HERD
ERNEST HILLIER
LOUIS B. HILLIER
HENRY H. F. TURNER
HERBERT A. KENNEDY
EGBERT LEWIS
EDWIN JOHN LONG
CHARLES MILES
JOHN HENRY ODEY -- Private John H. Odey (Service No: 54286), 13th Bn., Durham Light Infantry; died 8 June 1917, aged 34; name recorded on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen (Panel 36 and 38.); son of Mrs. James Odey, of 7, Southville Terrace, Lyncombe Vale, Bath; husband of Rosie Mary Odey, of 3, Stanley St., Swindon, Wilts.: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/919326/ODEY,%20JOHN%20H
REGINALD C. B. PERKINS
WILLIAM RIDEWOOD
RONALD H. J. ROSE
CYRIL SHANNON
MARTIN G. SUTTON
FRANCIS W. VEAL
REGINALD WORSLEY -- Second Lieutenant William Reginald Worsley, 4th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 1 August 1917; name recorded on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen (Panel 21.): www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/912046/WORSLEY,%20WIL...
F. YOUNG -- Corporal F. Young (Service No: 32748), 1st Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment; died 11 April 1917; buried in Wancourt British Cemetery, Somme, France (Special Memorial 14.); [Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Corporal Young was born and enlisted at Bath, he was formerly 20824, Somerset Light Infantry]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/33206/YOUNG,%20F
Memorial Quarter Peal rung for Private Albert Edwin Seers (Service no. 19409), 6th Bn, Dorsetshire Regiment; died 12 October 1918, aged 32; buried in Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt, France (XIII. D. 22.); Son of Mr. and Mrs. W H. Seers, of Bath; husband of Emilie Seers, of 23, Magdalen Avenue, Holloway, Bath:
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/244619/SEERS,%20ALBER...
Alfred Seers was a member of the band at St Michael's. The performance record says that Pte Seers had been wounded in the German advance of March 1918 and that he composed the date touch rung here while he was recovering in hospital.
Bath, Som (St Michael). 21 October 1918, 1918 Grandsire Triples: Albert F Alexander 1, Thomas Hogsflesh 2, Frederick C Rich 3, Charles Goodenough 4, Charles W Bell 6, Richard J Cousins (C) 7, William J Prescott 8.
Occasional reports of change ringing in the Bath Chronicle demonstrate that A. E. Seers was heavily involved in Bath ringing in the pre-war period. His father, W. E. Seers was also a bell ringer, described in 1914 as instrumental in getting St Matthew's, Widcombe affiliated to the Association (Bath Chronicle, 31 January 1914, p. 9). Albert called his first 720 Bob Minor at St. Mark's, Widcombe in 1907 with J. H. Odey (another First World War casualty) ringing the Treble. Seers featured in various Bath ringing performances, including a "farewell peal" of Grandsire Triples rung at Colerne in 1916 by eight ringers, "all of whom have attested as married men under Lord Derby's Scheme." He also rang in Bath when on leave, including a quarter peal shortly before his death.
Bath Chronicle, Saturday, 14 September 1918, p. 16:
"A special peal at St. Saviours.
At the Church of St. Saviour on Sunday morning a quarter peal of Grandsire Triples, 1,260 changes, was rung in honour of the re-opening of the Men's Afternoon Services, in 41 minutes, by the following members of the Bath and Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers: Treble, Henry W. Brown; 2nd. Thomas Hogsflesh; 3rd, Horace Taylor; 4th, Albert E. Alexander; 5th, Albert Seers; 6th, Richard J. Cousins; 7th, Charles W. Bell; tenor, Herbert E. Holder; conducted by H. E. Holder. The ringer of the 5th is a Bath ringer home on leave from the trenches."
Oddly enough, five years before, Albert Seers and another Bath ringer (W. J. Prescott) happened to ring a peal at St Margaret's, Westminster at the wedding of Winston Churchill and Clementine Hozier. This was reported in the Bath Chronicle of Thursday, 17 September 1908, p. 7:
"CHANGE RINGING.-- At St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, on Saturday evening in honour of the wedding of Mr. Winston Churchill and Miss Clementine Hozier, a peal of Stedman Caters, consisting of 5,003 changes, was rung in three hours twenty-eight minutes by the following members of the Middlesex County Association and London Diocesan Guild:-- Treble, H. Flanders; 2nd, J. J. Lamb; 3rd, F. G. Perrin; 4th, J. Cheeseman (conductor); 5th, A. E. Seers; 6th, W. J. Prescott; 7th, A. W. Coles; 8th, J. E. Davis; 9th, W. Pickworth; tenor, A. N. Hardy. The first peal on ten bells was by A. E. Seers, who, with W. J. Prescott are both members of the St. Mary's Company, Bathwick, Bath."
In 1950 (Bath Chronicle, 22 July 1950, p. 1), W. J. Prescott (by then Tower Master of Bath Abbey) explained that: "A party of us [Bath ringers] were going on a ringers' outing to London. We wrote to the secretary of the Diocesan Guild of Ringers and asked to ring at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, where Mr. Churchill was to be married," [...] We all thought it a great honour, of course, but I think much more of it now."
The War Memorial
Two of these (James Chivers and William Isaac Gale) are buried in the churchyard, the others (assuming the identifications are correct) are buried or commemorated on memorials in Belgium, France, and Turkey (for the First World War), and Belgium, Italy, Libya, and the UK (for the Second). Seven out of the fifteen First World War casualties belonged to the Wiltshire Regiment, others belonging to the Army Service Corps, the Devonshire Regiment, the Durham Light Infantry, the Royal Berkshire Regiment, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and the Royal Navy.
The inscription with some identifications from the CWGC database:
To the glory of God and in grateful memory
Of the following parishioners
Who laid down their lives in the Great War
1914 - 1919
William Bowsher -- Private W. J. Bowsher (Service No: 70397), 2nd Bn., Devonshire Regiment; died 27 September 1918; buried in La Targette British Cemetery, Neuville-St. Vaast, Pas-de-Calais, France (IV. C. 8.); [Private William James Bowsher's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Beckhampton and resident at Marlborough]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/530663/BOWSHER,%20W%20J
Henry Joseph Brindle -- Private H. J. Brindle (Service No: 16296), 6th Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment; died 31 July 1917, aged 32; buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen (XVI. G. 8A.); husband of E. Brindle, of East Kennet, near Marlborough, Wilts.; [Private Henry Joseph Brindle's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Marston Maisey, Gloucestershire and resident at Marlborough; according to the 1911 Census, Henry [Henery?] Brindle (a brewers labourer, aged 24, born Marston Maisey) lived at West Kennet with his widowed mother Mary, and three brothers; his mother and youngest brother had been born in Castle Eaton, suggesting a family link with Walter Brindle]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/434203/BRINDLE,%20H%20J
Walter Brindle -- Corporal Walter Brindle (Service No: 9772), 1st Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment; died 25 August 1914; buried in Maroilles Communal Cemetery, Nord, France; [Corporal Walter Brindle's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Castle Eaton, WIltshire and resident at Marlborough]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/582300/BRINDLE,%20WALTER
Reginald Cable -- Possibly: Private R. A. Cable (Service No: 18217), 2nd Bn., Wiltshire Regiment; died 18 October 1916; buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France (II. A. 14.); [Private Reginald Arthur Cable's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Berwick St James and resident at Salisbury; at the time of the 1911 Census, Reginald Arthur Cable was a 18 year old farm labourer living with his parents, Henry John and Georgina Cable, and six siblings at Lower Sheldon, Chippenham]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/240939/CABLE,%20R%20A
Ernest Cannings -- Private E. Cannings (Service No: 6765), 1st Bn., Wiltshire Regiment; died 12 March 1915; buried in La Laiterie Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen (I. B. 2.); brother of Mr. W. Cannings, of 6, Rotherstone, Devizes, Wilts.; [Private Ernest Cannings's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Potterne and resident at Devizes; according to the 1911 Census, an Ernest Cannings (aged 29, born Potterne) was a servant (ostler) at the Red Lion Inn in Avebury]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/94985/CANNINGS,%20E
Charles William Chivers -- Corporal Charles William Chivers (Service No: 18112), "A" Coy., 2nd Bn., Wiltshire Regiment; died 11 April 1917, aged 33; buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, Pas-de-Calais, France (VIII. C. 11.); husband of Agnes Eliza Chivers, of High St., Avebury, Marlborough, Wilts.: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/90899/CHIVERS,%20CHAR...
James Chivers -- Private J. Chivers (Service No: 18111), Depot, Wiltshire Regiment; died 24 December 1918; buried in Avebury (St James) Churchyard, Wiltshire (near north boundary); husband of Sophia Ash (formerly Chivers), of South St., Avebury, Marlborough: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/405747/CHIVERS,%20J
William Cook -- Probably: Private Alfred William Cook (Service No: M2/050583), Aux. Supply Coy. Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps, attd. Mech. Excavators Canadian Corps; died 3 June 1917, aged 28; buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France (III. G. 48.); son of Alice Matilda Cook, of 1, Widcombe Crescent, Bath, Somerset; native of Avebury, Wilts.; [in the 1911 Census, Alfred William Cook, a 21 year old farm labourer born at Avebury, was living with his uncle's family in the High Street, Avebury]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/51666/COOK,%20ALFRED%...
Albert Deacon -- Private A. E. Deacon (Service No: 54124), 12th Bn., Durham Light Infantry; died 15 June 1917; buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France (XXII. K. 21A.); [Private Albert Edward Deacon's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Avebury and resident at Marlborough]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/500538/DEACON,%20A%20E
William Fishlock -- Lance Serjeant William Fishlock (Service No: 21350), 5th Bn., Wiltshire Regiment; died 20 August 1916, aged 34; name recorded on the Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial, India (Face E.); son of Cornelius and Sarah Fishlock; husband of Gertrude Fishlock, of Culley's Farm, Marlborough, Wiltshire; [Lance Serjeant Fishlock's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at West Kenneth [i.e. Kennet] and resident at Marlborough; in the 1911 Census, William Fishlock, a 29 year old brewers labourer, is living at Avebury with his wife Gertrude and four young children, William John (7), Edward Cornelius (5), Norah Kathleen (3) and Walter Basil Peto (1); Gertrude was born in West Overton, William and all of the others in Avebury]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1499066/FISHLOCK,%20W...
Frank Hancock -- Private Frank Hancock (Service No: 15305), 7th Bn., Royal Dublin Fusiliers; died 5 September 1915; name recorded on the Helles Memorial, Turkey (Panel 190 to 196.); [Private Hancock's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Avebury and resident at Marlborough; in the 1911 Census, Frank Hancock is a 16 year old agricultural labourer boarding with the family of Mrs Ellen May, an 81 year old widow, at 18 Corporation Row, Marlborough; he had been born at Avebury]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/694207/HANCOCK,%20FRANK
Joseph Hancock -- Possibly: Private J. Hancock (Service No: 15299), 7th Bn., Royal Dublin Fusiliers; died 19 August 1915; name recorded on the Helles Memorial, Turkey (Panel 190 to 196.); [Private Hancock's Forces War Records entry states that he was born at Hodson, Wiltshire and resident at Marlborough; in the 1911 Census, Joseph Hancock is a 35 year old farm labourer living at Avebury Downs with his brother-in-law's family]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/694209/HANCOCK,%20J
Harry White -- Private Harry White (Service No: 7274), 1st Bn., Wiltshire Regiment; died 19 October 1914, aged 27; name recorded on the Le Touret Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France (Panel 33 and 34.); son of William White, of Beckhampton, Marlborough, Wilts.: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1563896/WHITE,%20HARRY
Thomas White -- Private Tom White (Service No: 9024), 1st Bn., Wiltshire Regiment; died 30 March 1915, aged 19; name recorded on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen (Panel 53.); son of William and Julia White, of Beckhampton, Marlborough, Wilts.; [the 1911 Census includes Tom White, a 15-year old cattle man, living with his parents, William and Julia White, at Penning, Beckhampton, Marlborough, Wilts. with six siblings. All except Tom's mother Julia had been born at Uffcott, Wilts.]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/913932/WHITE,%20TOM
William Isaac Gale -- Stoker 1st Class William Isaac Gale (Service No: PO/K30752), Royal Navy (H.M.S. "P. 46."); died 12 September 1920, aged 23; buried in Avebury (St. James) Churchyard, Wiltshire; son of Isaac James Gale, of High St., Avebury, and the late Annie Gale: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/405748/GALE,%20WILLIA...
Roll of Honour
1939 - 1945
Albert Ash -- Steward Albert John Ash (Service No: D/LX 26601), Royal Navy, H.M.S. Prince of Wales; died 10 December 1941, aged 24; name recorded on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon (Panel 55, Column 3.); son of Frederick William and Ruth Ash; husband of Olive Rose Ash, of Calne, Wiltshire; [in the 1911 Census, Frederick William and Ruth Ash are living at South Street, Avebury with three young children]: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2474879/ASH,%20ALBERT...
Frederick Greenaway -- Private Frederick Thomas Greenaway (Service No: 5566197), 2nd Bn., Wiltshire Regiment; died 7 August 1944, aged 38; buried in Naples War Cemetery, Italy (I. D. 4.); son of William Henry and Matilda Ellen Greenaway; husband of Dorothy Edith Miriam Greenaway, of Avebury, Wiltshire: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2239505/GREENAWAY,%20...
Samuel Pratt -- Lance Serjeant Samuel Searle Pratt (Service No: 835158), 3 Field Regt., Royal Artillery; died 12 June 1942, aged 29; buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya (3. E. 12.); son of Samuel Harold and Amelia Mary Pratt, of Avebury, Wiltshire: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2382913/PRATT,%20SAMU...
William M. Haig -- Possibly: Private William Mitchell Haig (Service No: 1650871), 7th Bn., Seaforth Highlanders; died 7 September 1944, aged 34; buried in Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Limburg, Belgium (VI. A. 14.): www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2109678/HAIG,%20WILLI...
The Wiltshire OPC has a page on the Avebury war memorial; some of the identifications differ from those provided here: www.wiltshire-opc.org.uk/Items/Avebury/Avebury%20-%20Roll...
A casualty with a more tenuous Avebury link is Lionel Hughes of the Wellington Mounted Rifles. He was the son of the late Rev. W. H. Hughes, vicar of St. Hilary, Cornwall, and Mrs. Hughes. An item in the West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 28 June 1915, p. 3, links Mrs Hughes with Wansdyke House, Avebury: Trooper Lionel Hughes (Service No: 11/464), Wellington Mounted Rifles, N.Z.E.F.; died 30 May 1915, aged 26; name recorded on the Lone Pine Memorial, Turkey (Panel Reference 72); son of Kathleen Hughes, of The Bungalow, St. Perran-Uthnoe, Marazion, Cornwall, England, and the late Rev. W. H. Hughes: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/720214/HUGHES,%20LIONEL
Taken from the Pulteney Gardens bridge, looking towards Bath. The house on the right is Widcombe House, and the spire is St Matthew's, Widcombe.
Where the canal joins the River Avon. Looking at the modern Google Streetview, the construction site would be the present Rossiter Road. Widcombe Baptist Church still has "Christ Died for our Sins" painted on the roof, and the spire would be St Matthew's Church, Widcombe. The chimney just above the canal bridge is Thimble Mill Pumping Station.
This shot was taken at 20:41 in the rain. The first time ever I saw this strange view of Bath. Towards the far end it seems it's still sun setting while everywhere else was dark blue. you can see the silhouette of some trees if you view large!! i've gotta come back another day around this time to catch another great look of this!!
Canon 400D | Sigma 70-300@70mm | 15s | f/9 | ISO100
Seen slowly but surely making its way up Widcombe Hill in Bath is an Enviro 200 of The Big Lemon's fleet. It's just passed St. Matthew's Church with a Saturday afternoon service bound for the city university.
Operator: The Big Lemon
Vehicle: ADL Enviro 200
Reg: YX17 NRN
Fleet No.: 1200
Location: Widcombe Hill, Bath
Route: 20: Twerton - University of Bath
Date: May 25, 2024
Crimean War Memorial
An obelisk of pennant stone; it is unusual for its age (1856) because it records the names of both officers and other ranks.
The top of the monument contains the names of various Crimean War battles: Bomarsund, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sweaborg, Tchernaya and Sebastopol. Bomarsund and Sveaborg/Viapori are not in the Crimea at all, but in the Baltic. An Anglo-French fleet spent part of the Crimean War bombarding Russian fortresses in the Baltic, including Bomarsund in the Åland Islands and Sveaborg (Suomenlinna) off the coast near Helsinki (now part of Finland).
The names are as follows:
Major-General Sir John Campbell
Colonel W. Trevelyan
Lieutenant-Colonel E. S. T. Swyny
Lieutenant-Colonel L. B. Tyler
Captain T. B. Foster
Lieutenant Thomas Molyneux Graves
Major W. Swinton
William Shell, Seaman (first who fell in the war)
George Roberts, Corporal, 21st Fusiliers
Robert Warren, Private, 21st Fusiliers
Edward Harris, Private, Royal Artillery
Erected by Citizens of Bath, | In honour, under God, | Of those Heroic Men, especially | Their Fellow-Citizens and Friends here recorded, | Who laid down their lives | In the Campaigns of 1854-5, | triumphantly achieved | for the liberties of Europe.
"There is a time to die." -- Eccles. iii. 2.
A report of the inauguration of the monument was published in the Bath Chronicle of 5th June 1856. It was apparently a big occasion, with a ceremony at the new memorial, a big service at Bath Abbey with an address by the Bishop ("perhaps so large a congregation was never before assembled in the Abbey Church as on this occasion"), and much sadness and rejoicing. The account also provided some practical details:
The monument was erected using surplus funds subscribed by the citizens of Bath in March 1855, when a number of wounded soldiers were passing through the city.
The obelisk was designed and executed by Mr. Samuel Rogers, jun. of Widcombe, and was constructed in "the finest pennant stone" It is 20 feet high, the base surrounded by flowers.
Its chosen site was at the head of the carriage drive where the road diverges to the mortuary chapel.
The 1939-1945 memorial tablet
The names are:
G. Baatz (St Mark's, Widcombe, Bath) -- Gunner George August Frederick Baatz (Service No: 1121703), 71 Field Regt., Royal Artillery; died 3 January 1944, aged 32; buried in Cassino War Cemetery, Italy (III. D. 12. ); son of August Frederick William and Florence Fanny Baatz, of Bath, Somerset: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2608050/BAATZ,%20GEOR...
D. W. Branch (Shipham) -- Leading Aircraftsman Derrick Robert Branch (Service No: 1316887), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; died 25 August 1945; buried in Maynamati War Cemetery, Bangladesh (3. C. 13.): www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1056902/BRANCH,%20DER...
G. Collier (Wedmore) -- Private Wilfred George Collier (Service No: 14456017), General Service Corps; died 5 March 1945, aged 18; buried in Wedmore (St Mary Magdalene) Churchyard Extension, Somerset (Plot B. Grave 68.); son of Ernest Dan and Elsie Josephine Collier. of Wedmore: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2692338/COLLIER,%20WI...
R. J. Dabinett (Drayton) -- Sapper Richard James Dabinett (Service No: 14356271), 510 Field Coy., Royal Engineers; died 24 March 1945, aged 23; buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany (54. E. 10.); son of Ralph Edmund and Jessie Dabinett; husband of Freda Doreen Dabinett, of Hastings, Sussex: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2035985/DABINETT,%20R...
A. E. Eades (Charlton Mackrell) -- Sergeant Aubrey Edward Eades (Service No: 1605781), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (166 Sqdn.); died 26 October 1944, aged 21; name recorded on the Runnymede Memorial (Panel 228.); son of Edwin Charles and Daisy Annie Eades, of Charlton Adam, Somerset: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/232690/EADES,%20AUBRE...
T. Maunders (Milverton) -- Pilot Officer Thomas Victor Saunders (Service No: 48745), Royal Air Force (142 Sqdn.); trade: Obs.; died 14 July 1942, aged 20; buried in Milverton (St. Michael) Churchyard, Somerset; son of Charles Victor and Hilda Catherine Maunders, of Milverton: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2692158/MAUNDERS,%20T...
C. Morgan (Dinder) -- Probably: Gunner George Edward Morgan (Service No: 969301), 107 (The South Notts. Hussars) Regt., Royal Horse Artillery; died 6 June 1942, aged 25; name recorded on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt (Column 14.); son of Albert Victor and Elisa Jane Morgan, of Dinder, Somerset: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2184487/MORGAN,%20GEO...
P. N. Rainey (Marston Magna) -- Lance Corporal Percy Normand George Rainey (Service No: 262181), 6th Bn., Grenadier Guards; died 17 March 1943, aged 29; buried in Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia (III. AA. 21.); son of Charles and Eliza Ann Rainey, of Marston Magna, Somerset: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2183299/RAINEY,%20PER...
R. Raymond
B. Sibley (Ilminster) -- Private Bertram Sibley (Service No: 5675606), 7th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry; died 25 September 1944, aged 27; buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Netherlands (21. D. 3.); son of Mr. and Mrs. George Sibley; husband of Phyllis Mary Ives Sibley, of Southgate, Middlesex: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2646872/SIBLEY,%20BER...
L. G. Slade (St Michael's, Minehead) -- Seaman Lewis George Slade (Service No: D/JX 238844), Royal Navy (H.M.S. President III); died 19 August 1941; name recorded on the Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 48, Column 2.); son of William John and Eva Ellen Slade, of Minehead, Somerset: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2487820/SLADE,%20LEWI...